For an 83-year-old female with diarrhea post-hospitalization, what is the recommended treatment?

In the case of an 83-year-old female experiencing diarrhea post-hospitalization, the recommended treatment is oral vancomycin, particularly if the diarrhea is suspected to be due to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which is common after antibiotic use in hospitalized patients. Oral vancomycin is an effective antibiotic specifically designed to target CDI, helping to clear the infection and restore normal intestinal flora. It is the standard treatment for moderate to severe CDI and is preferred due to its efficacy and safety profile, especially in older adults who may be more vulnerable to complications from other treatments.

Other treatments listed may not be appropriate for this specific situation. For example, fecal transplants are usually considered for recurrent CDI after several treatment failures rather than an initial treatment. Intravenous metronidazole, while an option for CDI, is generally reserved for cases where oral treatment isn't possible or when the infection is severe and oral therapy fails. Gastrointestinal rest may help relieve symptoms but does not address the underlying cause of the diarrhea and is not a definitive treatment for CDI. Thus, oral vancomycin is the best choice in this context.